This
rooftop extension to an existing three storey concrete frame brick
building was planned to increase the residential component of a large
live/work scheme occupied by the clients.The property is part of a
cluster of similar large blocks which line Bermondsey Street. It is
one of the oldest settlements on the south bank of the City. The area
is currently undergoing transformation and regeneration and this domestic
extension was one of the first in the area to signal a new confidence
in the use of contemporary design and materials. The brief was to
work on a new type of building venture and the collaboration between
architect and client/contractor was pivotal in the design development
of the building. The choice of metal for the fabrication of the building
was an ideal material using the skills of the client. The construction
period was 10 months and during which the client/contractor worked
exclusively on the realisation of the building. The exposed structural
elements and envelope components of the extension are unadorned and
pragmatic, yet the result is an elegant essay in graphic space and
diffused light. Such an aesthetic might be more expected in a drier,
warmer climate, but the design copes convincingly with the English
weather. The roof consists of a rigid curved membrane of profiled
aluminium in sandwich construction which incorporates a generous layer
of insulation. This lightweight system was developed in Germany and
offers large uninterrupted spans which can be erected quickly and
economically providing an open and flexible interior. The wall envelope
consists of purpose designed galvanised steel louvre panels shielding
insulation in a timber lattice. The modified louvres to the south
elevation protect against solar gain in summer without compromising
the views out and reflect light onto the internal aluminium soffit.
In winter, sunlight is allowed to enter directly. The steel structure,
which utilises the stiffness of the aluminium roof deck for stability
accommodated a cantilevered ring beam, which in turn allows the north-east
corner of the building to be composed of large sliding glazed panels
which allow uninterrupted views across the river to the City of London,
and access to the decked terrace which surrounds the new extension.